Winnipeg cyclists decry delay of Wellington Crescent safety report

Some Winnipeg cycling advocates questioned the priorities of city officials, as they gathered outside city hall to protest the delay of a report on safety improvements to a stretch of road where a driver hit and killed a cyclist last year.

Council ordered city staff to come up with a plan to improve cycling safety on Wellington Crescent last year. On June 6, 2024, a driver going 159 km/h hit and killed Rob Jenner on Wellington, near the intersection of Cockburn Street. 

Last month, the public works committee approved a 60-day delay of that report, meaning any changes likely won't be ready in time for the summer cycling season.

"The city has ignored the call from the community to do something about the racetrack-like speeds, the racetrack-like infrastructure and design of Wellington Crescent," said Arielle Villarin, who lives near Wellington.

Ahead of a regularly scheduled public works committee meeting Tuesday, Villarin and more than a dozen others rallied outside city hall. Beside the speakers stood a white bike decorated with flowers — a "ghost bike" in tribute to Jenner. 

"It's almost summer and everyone's out on their bikes, but nothing has been done to change how our roads and our streets function for people who are more vulnerable on the road," said Villarin.

After the rally, the protesters packed the public gallery inside the committee meeting room.

The Wellington report wasn't on the agenda. Instead, the committee was discussing a report looking at speed limits on active transportation paths.

In January, council ordered city staff to write the report, after a motion from St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson, who said he had received complaints from residents concerned about safety risks posed by electric bicycles and scooters. 

That report concluded the Highway Traffic Act prevents the city from setting separate speed limits on paths running next to roadways, and it would be difficult to enforce on paths in other areas.

After the meeting, the protesters installed the ghost bike near the spot on Wellington where Jenner was killed.

Rachel Alguire wishes the city spent more time improving Wellington rather than studying active transportation speed limits.

"The city continues to delay things to no end. And I look at this white ghost bike and I think, who will be the next person that will be killed by a motorist on this street?" she said.

Public works chair Janice Lukes says councillors have many competing priorities, and city staff want to make sure that the changes they make to Wellington Crescent are the right ones.

"Sure, a person could slap in something, but if it isn't proper, that's not good," the Waverley West councillor said. "So they are taking their time to make sure what they put in is adequate."

The public works committee will take up the matter again on June 12, more than one year after Jenner's death.

Winnipeg cyclists rally at city hall to demand safer streets

2 days ago

Duration 1:59

It's been almost a year since a driver hit and killed a cyclist on Wellington Crescent. On Tuesday, bike advocates gathered at city hall to urge officials to act faster to make streets safer.